The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led industry team completed another key milestone in constructing the nation's third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) with the landing of the vessel's two main propulsion gas turbines. More than 50 percent of the ship's modules are under construction at the Marinette Marine shipyard. LCS 3, named Fort Worth, is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2012.

Designed to operate in coastal waters, the LCS provides the Navy with a fast, agile shallow-draft warship that maximizes mission flexibility. The vessel is a highly automated and networked surface combatant which can accommodate mission packages that provide the ship with the ability to execute focused missions such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, as well as other potential missions.

Fort Worth's gas turbine engines, part of an innovative combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant with steerable water jets, are a critical part of the Lockheed Martin team's proven LCS propulsion system. The same system has successfully powered USS Freedom (LCS 1) since that ship's November 2008 commissioning. Two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines – the largest gas turbines installed on any Navy ship class – will allow Fort Worth to sustain sprint speeds of well over 40 knots, as demonstrated with USS Freedom. The propulsion system also has two fixed and two steerable Rolls-Royce water jets which enable superior maneuverability for mission execution.

"The success that Freedom achieved in its acceptance trials proves the soundness of the logistical, technological and manufacturing approach that the team is using to build LCS," said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Integrated Defense Technologies business. "We're using the lessons learned from LCS 1 to build LCS 3 even more efficiently and cost effectively."

In March 2009, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a fixed price incentive fee contract to construct Fort Worth. In July, the ship's sponsor, Rep. Kay Granger (R-12-Texas) joined the Lockheed Martin team members and U.S. Navy representatives for its keel laying ceremony.

Lockheed Martin's LCS team delivered the first-of-class USS Freedom to the fleet in only six years from its initial concept, half the time of traditional shipbuilding programs. Team members include naval architect Gibbs & Cox, ship builders Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, and Bollinger Shipyards, as well as domestic and international teammates.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.